First Employee to Face Prosecution under the Bribery Act

The Bribery Act came into force on 1st July, 2011 and introduced a corporate offence of failure to prevent bribery by persons working on behalf of a business. Employers have to demonstrate that they have adequate procedures in place to prevent bribery in order to avoid breaching the Act.
An employee of Redbridge Magistrates’ Court is the first person to face prosecution under the new Act. Munir Yakub Patel is due to appear before Southwark Crown Court on 14th October for allegedly “requesting and receiving a bribe intending to improperly perform his functions” which breaches Section 2 of the Act. An individual had been summoned to court for a motoring offence and it is alleged that Mr Patel told the individual he could influence the course of proceedings in return for £500.
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